Methods and apparatuses for adjusting the opening of a hood of an air flow measuring device

ABSTRACT

Method and apparatuses for adjusting the dimensions of the opening of a hood of an air flow measuring device using flaps is provides. Flaps of various configurations and dimensions can be used to adjust the opening of hood to have numerous dimensions at various locations.

FIELD

The present invention relates to air flow measuring devices and more particularly to adjusting the dimensions of the opening of a hood of an air flow measuring device.

BACKGROUND

Referring to FIG. 1, an air flow measuring device 100 is used to measure air flow from registers, diffusers and grilles for various reasons such as, to verify air flow distribution, balance buildings, and pinpoint air system deficiencies. Air flow measuring device 100 generally includes a hood 110 and base 120. The hood 110 channels air to the base 120. The base 120 includes a measuring device for measuring the air flow and a readout device.

Air flow is measured using the air flow measuring device 100 by holding and aligning the top of hood 100 against an air flow opening and reading the airflow measurement on the readout device such a digital display. However, air flow openings, such as registers, diffusers, and grills, exist in a variety of sizes. To accurately measure the air flow from an air flow opening, the size of the opening of hood 110 should be as close as possible to the size of the air flow opening. Accordingly, although hood 110 is typically collapsible to fit into a carrying case, because hood 110 is of a fixed size, technicians must carry around numerous hoods of a variety of sizes to take readings for common air flow openings. To measure the air flow of a particular air flow opening, the technician must measure the air flow opening and then select, unfold, and place the correct sized hood 110 (if available) on the base 120 to measure the air flow. Carrying around multiple hoods 110 is bulk and costly, and replacing a hood 110 on a base 120 to match the size of an air flow opening is tedious and time consuming.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present invention include methods and apparatuses for adjusting the size of an opening of a hood of an air flow measuring device to measure air flow. Methods and apparatuses include placing a first material including at least one flap over an opening of a hood to conceal at least a portion of the opening of the hood and adjusting the at least one flap to create a new opening for the air flow measuring device. In another embodiment, a second material including at least one flap is placed over the first material and the at least one flap of the first material and the at least one flap of the second material are adjusted to create a new opening for the air flow measuring device.

Both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art air flow measuring device.

FIG. 2A illustrates a flap according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 2B and 2C illustrate exemplary new openings of the hood of the air flow measuring device illustrated in FIG. 1 that can be achieved using the flap illustrated in FIG. 2A.

FIG. 3A illustrates a flap according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 3B-3E illustrate exemplary new openings of the hood of the air flow measuring device illustrated in FIG. 1 that can be achieved using the flap illustrated in FIG. 3A.

FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary new opening of the hood of the air flow measuring device illustrated in FIG. 1 that can be achieved using the flaps illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 3A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention adjust the size of the opening of a hood 110 based on the size of the air flow opening for which air flow measurements are to be taken. Embodiments of the present invention may reduce the number of hoods needed for air flow measurement or eliminate the need to have multiple hoods.

FIG. 2A illustrates a flap 200 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Flap 200 may include multiple flaps of varying widths, for example, flaps 210, 220, 230, and 240. In alternate embodiments, more or less flaps may be provided of the same or varying widths or combinations of thereof.

Flaps 210, 220, 230, 240 may include reclosable fasteners such as Velcro or any other fastening technology to secure flaps 210, 220, 230, 240 in an open or closed position. For example, referring to FIGS. 2B, 2C flap 220 may include Velcro hooks 250 on its underside to attach to Velcro loops 260 on flaps 210, 230 and flap 230 may include Velcro hooks 250 on its underside to attach to Velcro loops 260 on flap 240. In an alternate embodiment, the Velcro hooks and loops may be interchanged. However, reclosable fasteners may be arranged in numerous ways to secure flaps 210, 220, 230, 240 in an open or closed position.

Flap 200 may be attached to air flow measuring device 100 by any attachment means such as Velcro or any other attachment technology. In one embodiment, flap 200 may be attached to the hood 110 and can be flipped over the opening of air flow measuring device 100. Flap 200 may be detachable to or un-detachable from hold 110. One of ordinary skill in the art would know how to attach flap 200 to air flow measuring device 100.

FIGS. 2B and 2C illustrate exemplary new openings of hood 110 that can be achieved using flap 200. For example, in an exemplary embodiment, flap 200 may have an overall dimension of 24″×24″. To measure the airflow of an airflow opening measuring 24″×8″, flap 200 is placed over the opening of hood 110 and then flap 220 is pulled back to reveal a 24″×8″ opening 270 as shown in FIG. 2B. In an open position, flap 220 may drape down the side of air flow measuring device 100. To measure the airflow of an airflow opening measuring 24″×18″, flaps 220 and 230 may be pulled back to reveal a 24″×18″ opening 280, as shown in FIG. 2C.

Flap 200 may have any number of flaps with any dimensions to achieve any desired number of openings having any desired dimensions. One of ordinary skill in the art after reading this disclosure would know how to design a flap 200 to achieve a desire number of openings have desired dimensions.

FIG. 3A illustrates a flap 300 according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Flap 300 may include multiple layers of flaps of varying widths and lengths, where a flap may have an opening of a particular dimension.

For example, referring to FIGS. 3A-E flap 300 may include flaps 310, 320, 330, 340 where flaps 320, 330, 340 may have openings 320′, 330′, 340′ respectively. In an exemplary embodiment, flap 300 may have an overall dimension of 24″×24″ where flap 320 has a 8″×8″ opening 320′; flap 330 has a 12″×12″ opening 330′; and flap 340 has a 16″×16″ opening 340′. In alternate embodiments, more or less flaps may be provided, which may having openings of varying widths.

Flaps 310, 320, 330, 340 may include reclosable fasteners such as Velcro or any other fastening technology to secure flaps 310, 320, 330, 340 in an open or closed position. For example, referring to FIG. 3B, flap 310 may include Velcro hooks 350 on its underside to attach to Velcro loops 360 on flap 320. Similarly, flaps 320, 330, 340 also may include Velcro hooks and loops to secure the flaps, as shown in FIGS. 3C-3E. In an alternate embodiment, the Velcro hooks and loops may be interchanged. However, reclosable fasteners may be arranged in numerous ways to secure flaps 310, 320, 330, 340 in an open or closed position.

Flap 300 may be attached to air flow measuring device 100 by any attachment means such as Velcro or any other attachment technology. In one embodiment, flap 300 may be attached to the hood 110 and can be flipped over the opening of air flow measuring device 100. Flap 300 may be detachable to or un-detachable from hold 110. One of ordinary skill in the art would know how to attach flap 300 to air flow measuring device 100.

FIGS. 3B-3E illustrates exemplary new openings of hood 110 that can be achieved using flap 300. For example, to measure the airflow of an airflow opening measuring 8″×8″, flap 300 is placed over the opening of hood 110 and then flap 310 is pulled back to reveal a 8″×8″ opening 320′, as shown in FIG. 3B. In an open position, flap 310 may drape down the side of air flow measuring device 100. To measure the airflow of an airflow opening measuring 12″×12″, flap 320 is pulled back to reveal a 12″×12″ opening 330′, as shown in FIG. 3C. To measure the airflow of an airflow opening measuring 16″×16″, flap 330 is pulled back to reveal a 12″×12″ opening 340′, as shown in FIG. 3D. To measure the airflow of an airflow opening measuring 20″×20″, flap 340 is pulled back to reveal a 20″×20″ opening 370′, as shown in FIG. 3E.

Flap 300 may have any number of flaps with openings having any dimensions to achieve any desired number of openings having any desired dimensions. One of ordinary skill in the art after reading this disclosure would know how to design a flap 300 to achieve a desired number of openings have desired dimensions.

In another exemplary embodiment, flap 200 and flap 300 are used together to adjust the dimensions of the opening of hood 110. FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary new opening of hood 110 that can be achieved using flaps 200, 300. For example, flap 300 may be placed over the opening of hold 110 and then flaps 310, 320 are pulled back to reveal a 12″×12″ opening 330′. Flaps 310, 320 may drape down the side of air flow measuring device 100. Then, to achieve a new opening that may have different dimensions than the dimensions that may be achieved with either flap 200 or 300 alone, flap 200 is placed over top flap 300 and flap 220 may be pulled back, for example, to reveal a portion of opening 330′ with flaps 230, 340 concealing a portion of opening 330.

The combinations of flaps 200, 300 may be used to adjust the opening of hood 110 to have numerous dimensions at various locations.

Flaps 200, 300 may be made of any appropriate material to measure airflow. In one embodiment, flaps 200, 300 are made of the same material of which hood 110 is made. One of ordinary skill in the art would know which material to use to make flaps 200, 300.

Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which this invention pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the forgoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

Reference throughout this specification to “an embodiment” or words of similar import means that a particular described feature, structure, or characteristic is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the phrase “in an embodiment” or a phrase of similar import in various places throughout this specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment.

Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the above description, numerous specific details are provided for a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that embodiments of the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations may not be shown or described in detail. 

1. A method for adjusting the size of an opening of a hood of an air flow measuring device to measure air flow, the method comprising: placing a first material including at least one flap over an opening of a hood to conceal at least a portion of the opening of the hood; and adjusting the at least one flap to create a new opening for the air flow measuring device.
 2. The method of claim 1 further comprising placing a second material including at least one flap over the first material and adjusting the at least one flap of the first material and the at least one flap of the second material to create a new opening for the air flow measuring device.
 3. A material for adjusting the size of an opening of a hood of an air flow measuring device to measure air flow, the material comprising: at least a first flap and a second flap, wherein: the first flap and the second flap are positioned side by side; and the first flap and the second flap are configured to reveal a first opening having a first dimension when the first flap is pulled back and configured to reveal a second opening having a second dimension when the second flap is pulled back.
 4. The material of claim 3 wherein the first dimension and the second dimension are different.
 5. The material of claim 3 wherein the first flap and the second flap overlap.
 6. An material for adjusting the size of an opening of a hood of an air flow measuring device to measure air flow, the material comprising: at least a first flap and a second flap, wherein: the first flap comprises a first opening, wherein the first opening has a first dimension; and the second flap comprises a second opening, wherein the second opening has a second dimension; wherein the first flap is positioned on top of the second flap; and wherein the first and second flap are configured such that the material has an opening equal to the first opening when the first flap is positioned on top of the second flap and an opening equal to the second opening when the first flap is pulled back.
 7. The material of claim 6 wherein the first dimension and the second dimension are different. 